MUSIC WEEK AUGUST 6, 1977 Trade concern over CBS targets 1 billion world sales by CHRIS WHITE Europe. Canada, Australia, Japan rumours at the convention through three-tier 45 prices THE ANNUAL CBS imernaiional and various South American the week that the news of such a convention, in London throughoui countries. Staff from 31 countries signing would be broken on the last it will be long before singles cost list week attracted more than 1.300 were told by Walter Yetnikoff, night, and many observers believed FROM PAGE 1 £1." delegates from around the world, CBS Records Group president, that that the group in question was option but to discount. This state of Joan Utterson, with five Disque and may cost the US company at he was setting a target of one billion Wings, whose contract with EMI is affairs already exists with other stores on Tyneside, said, "I'm still least £1 million. Although the event dollars in world wide sales from all soon up for renewal. consumer goods, most notably hi-i getting over the shock of EMI's lias only been held in London once sources by 1980. CBS Records' UK managing hardware. recent price increases, but there before, in 1972. again no expense Social highlight of the week was a director Maurice Oberstein — seen Record buyers may be more aren't that many dealers who retail was spared either in terms of gala dinner on Saturday (30) sporting a badge with the motto, immune to price hikes than the singles at full-price anyway. Most hospitality, accommodation costs, climaxed by a special performance Yanks Go Home — told Music industry believes, respondents to resort to discounting. Because I face general entertainment, and the by the Beach Boys (the group's Week that he believed the Music Week's survey pointed out a lot of competition from the convention presentation. Brothers Records Inc. label recently convention had gone very smoothly. but they are still cost-conscious. Said multiples, my policy is to specialise Delegates attended from every signed a licensing deal with CBS). "When you have more than 1,200 Mark Green of the Record Room, in singles, and I retail them at 65p. major record territory around the An expected announcement that CBS representatives suddenly St. Albans, "The first question a Yet I am told that they are still more world. The US alone provided 800 CBS had signed a worldwide deal converging on London, then there customer asks is how much a record expensive than others which are sold representatives, many of whom flew with a band described as one of the are bound to be slight problems costs, and not whether we have it m locally. The main effect of the recent by chartered planes. Other world's top five rock groups, never thrown up, and some inconvenience stock. Discounting has obviously territories represented include materialised. There had been for people, but generally I believed increases is that 1 shall be more that everyone enjoyed themselves had a great effect on people's buying selective in future." and at the same time a lot of good habits, and the independent dealer Other dealers reached by Music work was achieved. The atmosphere has to make greater efforts. So far as Week shared similar views, with DJM image revamped - between CBS in the US with the the current three price levels for specific — but not always exclusive various international companies was singles are concerned, we intend to — criticisms levelled at the EMI 80p FROM PAGE 1 to Diana Warren in the promotion level them out at75p." decision. If the independent trade department, who is moving to UA's particularly rewarding. The Dot Costin of Startrack near brought the rights to the promotion team. David Silburn, convention also gave everyone a Maidstone, Kent, commented: "We has not become as hardened to price Scepter/Wand catalogue. "We have head of administration has left for chance to see different acts from all put our singles up the week before increases as they say the public is taken about 100 LPs from those personal reasons, and a replacement over the world." last and it doesn't seem to have now, it displays an adaptability at catalogues", James said, "and feel is being sought for him. Oberstein added that from an made much difference to trade — dealing with new RRPs. we have picked the best. We have His new plan for a&r starts with a artistic point of view, it had been everybody just seems to expect price Meanwhile, two more record made a lot of money out of them on cutback of the UK artists roster to good to see performances by rises these days. Singles are now 70p companies have announced rises export — which is what we wanted, about ten (the number including established acts, including the Beach here; we always try to go 5p under affecting their product. Beserkley although it may have contributed to lease tape and outside production Boys, James Taylor and BozScaggs, the RRP although we have not yet singles, distributed by Selecta, move making us look like a rather deals stood at 32) and those are to be alongside performances by potential worked out our policy on the EMI to 75p this week; United Artists mediocre and middle-of-the-road strong rock and pop acts. The roster hit performers. "We took a lot of singles." make a similar change for 45s, and record company here at home." will be kept at around a dozen in CBS people, including the various Nigel Waller of Ear'ere Records, takes its UAS album series to £3.49 The Vee-Jay catalogue has been future. The few new signings are managing directors and vice- Lancaster, said; "We have been from £3.25. The firm's UAG range dropped altogether. "We were just likely to include a punk band. presidents, to see the Vibrators at selling chart singles at 65p, but now goes to £3.75 from £3.49, and UAK not getting any tapes out of them in Tony Palmer, head of a&r, has the Vortex punk club in London and we will make a price rise to 70p from £3.75 to £3.99. Double-albums Los Angeles and so the contract was resigned, but will continue, like the although after the gruelling schedule across-the-board, with EMI 45s up rise to £5.49 (£4.99) and single-play aborted." other a&r men affected in a smaller of the day they could have been to 75 p. There will be a few raised tapes move to £3.99 (£3.49). Sunset James has unburdened DJM of DJM reshuffle earlier this year, to forgiven for just wanting a quiet eyebrows when people hear about budget albums are now priced at the direct administration of the work on company acts as an evening, they came along and really the new EMI prices, but by and £1.99, an increase of 25p. The hikes licensed labels but will retain a independent producer. Les Tomlin, appreciated the performance. 1 think arc the first from UA since financial interest; he has done a deal who has been DJM head of sales for a lot of them began to realise that large, people will pay them. This is September last. with Pickwick for release of the several years, moves over to head punk is music." the first time in my memory that a remaining budget product, and six a&r. He will be recruiting an Oberstein said that the convention price rise discounted ten percent will album releases are planned under assistant to help look for solid rock had been particularly useful for CBS be higher than the old RRP." NEMS owe that agreement for this autumn. acts. A replacement for Tomlin in UK, and his main regret was that "Everyone is moaning about the James is also talking to tv the sales department has yet to be space limitation had meant many price increases, but they are still THE NEMS Organisation, including merchandisers about use of this found. people from the Soho Square offices paying," said Mrs Dunlay of B.G. the NEMS Agency offshoot, has licensed product. The decision to initiate sweeping were unable to attend. "For CBS in Records, Stockport. "All my singles moved offices from its old Other staff changes announced changes had, James concluded, London, it gave us the opportunity are on sale at 70p, but EMI discs will Nemperor House headquarters at 3, this week and last do not, James come about when he realised that the to meet international people on an have logo up io75p. It is about time Hill Street to new premises at 55, emphasised, amount to an exercise sales force could not function a&r level. There was a strong artist the dealer profit margin went up as South Audley Street, London W1 in staff cutting. DJM's turnover has properly because the product it was representation, with Crawler and well as the consumer price. I doubt if (01-409 1091). dropped this year, but it is not in any working on was not good enough. Lone Star both gaining a good financial trouble, and is not "They had nothing to sell, and were reaction when they performed at the attempting to economise but to give losing credibility with the dealers. evening banquets, and it also Demand for ILR franchises itself a new direction. Staff leaving The company has been suffering provided an occasion for names like to take up other jobs have been from bad product which has given it Tina Charles and Sailor to meet with FROM PAGE 1 secured it enough parliamentary Trisha O'Kecfe and Paula Adams, a bad image, and this is preventing CBS people from other territories.